Rob Ford relinquishes power as mayor after taking leave for alcohol addiction

His tearful mother says she had no idea Rob’s troubles were this serious. Doug says he is relieved his little brother is getting help. Police say want to see new alleged crack video. Deputy Mayor Kelly says he has assumed all of the powers of mayor.

Thirteen hours after Rob Ford announced a temporary leave to see professional help for his drinking, Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly announced he was taking over Ford’s last remaining powers.

“I do not see this as a crisis of government,” Kelly said. “Nothing’s changed.”

RAW VIDEO: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was driven away from his Etobicoke home early May 1, 2014.

Kelly, however, said he has taken over Ford’s staff and the powers Ford still had: to represent Toronto, to preside over council meetings, to be the city’s chief executive officer and sit on the executive committee.

Ford lost most of his power in a city council vote in November.

“I have agreed to assume the responsibilities of mayor,” Kelly said. “This transition is effective immediately.

“I am the deputy mayor who has assumed all of the powers that the mayor had.”

At times barely able to speak, brother Doug Ford said at mid-morning news conference, “As an older brother, I am relieved that Rob has faced his problems and has decided to seek professional help.”

Ford, campaign manager for the mayor and his ardent defender, said, “Rob was very emotional when he told me the hardest thing about this is that he knows he let people down. I told Rob that everybody knows someone who has faced these challenges.”

Doug Ford’s voice cracked as he said, “I love my brother. I will continue to stand by my brother. Please respect his privacy.”

He left without answering questions but later told the Star’s Jennifer Pagliaro the mayor was checking into “one of the best facilities in North America” for treatment. He wouldn’t be specific.

In a public statement released late Wednesday, Rob Ford said he has decided to take a break from his re-election campaign and from his mayoral duties to seek “immediate help. I have a problem with alcohol and the choices I have made while under the influence.”

He left his Etobicoke home Thursday morning offering no comment to waiting reporters about revelations of a new crack video, of a lewd and crude audio tape and of two wild nights involving booze, drugs and Justin Bieber at a Toronto nightclub.

“He’s concerned about dying,” the Toronto Sun’s Joe Warmington said Thursday in a CP24 interview.

Warmington, a Ford confidante, said the mayor admitted he had no recollection of what he had said in the audio tape obtained by the Sun.

“The last few days since Saturday seem to be out of control for him,” Warmington said.

Toronto Star feature writer Jim Coyle, who has documented his own battle with alcoholism, said Thursday, “Euphemism should be avoided. Rob Ford is not facing ‘his demons.’ Addiction is a complex life-threatening, life-shortening condition. Most addicts are perpetual emotional adolescents.”

Ford’s tearful mother Diane said she finally had to admit to herself her son’s problems went far beyond his weight, as she had said in a TV interview months ago.

“I guess I have to. I had no idea it was as serious as it was. He doesn’t live with me,” she told CP24.

She asked the media “to leave him alone. Leave us alone.”

Toronto police Det. Sgt. Gary Giroux says the investigation of the mayor he leads, Project Brazen 2, is still alive and they would like to see the new alleged crack video.

Mayoralty candidate Olivia Chow said she is angry and embarrassed by Mayor Rob Ford's offensive comments about women, including those about rival Karen Stintz.

“It is long past time we has a mayor who respected the dignity of everyone on our city,” Chow said, reading a statement in her Yonge Street campaign headquarters.

“It’s obvious that Mr. Ford is a sick man.” She hopes he gets treatment but “as mayor, it’s too late. He has had his chance.”

Fellow mayoral candidate John Tory said Wednesday night: “For the good of the city, I call on Mayor Ford to resign.”

Stinz, a target of Ford’s crudest comments in the bar tape, said at a news conference: “Rob Ford is not Toronto. We need to move forward.”

She also said if Ford was truly sorry, he would have apologized to her last night, which he did not. She was “shocked and embarrassed” by his comments about her.

“This has been a distraction for a long time,” Premier Kathleen Wynne said after a morning jog. “I’ve been dealing with Deputy Mayor (Norm) Kelly since he was given decision-making authority by the city.”

City councillors on their way to work were categoric in their response.

“There are things in this tape that the people of this city can’t live with in their mayor, drunk or sober,” Councillor Shelley Carroll declared.

“I’m a sloppy version of me when I drink. I don’t become racist. I don’t become a misogynist or a homophobe,” Carroll said.

Councillor Joe Mihevic described the mayor as “a man that is really struggling with major addictions and needs help (and) to take responsibility for his behaviour.”

Mihevic said, “So what we need I think as Torontonians to do is to rally behind the call, ‘It’s time to leave. It’s time to move on, Mayor Ford.”

“I think it’s time for the mayor to leave. Thirty days doesn’t cut it,” said Councillor Janet Davis. “I don’t believe he can recover from the disgrace that he has brought on himself and the City of Toronto.”

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